Anoraks Assemble

Children of the Stones is a seven-part British children’s drama, first broadcast on ITV in 1977.

It tells the story of scientist Adam Brake (a pre-Blakes 7 Gareth Thomas), and his son Matthew, who arrive in the sleepy village of Milbury which is surrounded by a mysterious neolithic stone circle.

Very quickly, they find that everything is not as it seems. The stones emanate a mysterious power which seems to hold the villagers captive, brainwashing them into perpetually (to almost quote REM), happy, smiling people who greet everybody with the same refrain.

“Happy day!”

As events spiral out of control, Adam and his son must face occurrences which challenge their beliefs about the very nature of time itself.

It is difficult to know where to begin when trying to describe Children of the Stones. This is a truly exceptional drama and quite astounding that it was made specifically for children’s TV.

It is genuinely disturbing in parts, from the opening titles, which are deeply creepy, to the incidental music, which is like nothing I have ever heard before. The weird choral chanting is repeated again and again and, in truly terrifying scenes, we see the possessed villagers all gather together, join hands, and sing this weird, haunting hymn, as though it is the most natural thing in the world for them to be doing.

Amongst the chaos we have Gareth Thomas who is utterly convincing as scientist Adam, having his beliefs challenged more and more as the series progresses. Peter Demin is also very good as his son, Matthew. In fact, all the child acting in the show is of a particularly high standard.

Iain Cuthbertson is wonderful as the sinister Hendrick, who seems to be the instigator of all the strange goings-on.

Children of the Stones is pure folk horror, part The Wicker Man and part Village of the Damned. How it was thought to be suitable for children’s TV is anybody’s guess, but I am so glad it was.

Don’t you just love the ’70s?!